Development and restructuring of a burn centre in an emerging nation, based on the example of Kyrgyzstan.
OBJECTIVE
To implement and review a four-tier plan to develop a burn centre in an emerging nation (Kyrgyzstan).


METHODS
From 2001, the developing burn centre in Bishkek was supported with numerous material donations and, once a year, teams from Germany operatively treated numerous burn victims on site. Training and further education for our Kyrgyzstani colleagues were based on 'helping them to help themselves', with additional consultations on conceptual hygienic and structural improvements.


RESULTS
Material donations were delivered personally by the project teams. Education and training were also limited due to physician emigration. However, in the seven trips made by the team from Germany, numerous operations were performed and there was fundamental progress in the areas of bandaging protocols, hygienic concepts and structural improvements.


CONCLUSIONS
An exact plan patiently tailored to the local situation and culture must be followed, to provide cost-effective support.
Ottomann
C
C
Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Germany. otto1701de@yahoo.com
Kleinschmidt
A
A
Gohlke
G
G
Biedermann
I
I
Hartmann
B
B
D001458:Bandages; D002053:Burn Units / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006754:Hospital Restructuring / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007707:Kyrgyzstan; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*